“Despite the new game modes being slightly few and far between, having plenty of variety and enjoyment on offer makes OlliOlli2 XL easy to recommend!”
OlliOlli2 XL Edition sees Roll7’s second 2D skateboarding platformer finally released on the Xbox One, with a little help from popular publishers Team17. The unique indie game has already done the rounds on other systems and has been popular across the board. With some sought after additional features in this newly updated version of the game, fans will no doubt be happy to see the game arrive on the new system.
If you are new to the OlliOlli world, imagine a Tony Hawks game as a 2D platformer. An arcade style combined with bright visuals and an entertaining soundtrack give the retro-feeling game an aesthetic that stands out amongst the indie crowd. It may not have the all-out realism of a game like Skate, but it executes its style well. Each level is laid out in a classic Tony Hawks Pro Skater style with a variety of different goals to achieve and the overarching aim of scoring as many points as possible. Naturally, both of these objectives are achieved by pulling off epic trips as you go.
There are several variants of this basic model on offer in OlliOlli2 XL, keeping the game interesting no matter how good you might get at it. A campaign mode introduces you to new skills and tricks in the early stages and progresses to challenge you with ever more complex levels. There is no major story in place, but the progressive difficulty still makes you feel as though you are working your way up towards glory. Combo Rush is a new mode in OlliOlli2, which tests your ability to hit a high score in a single run against opponents in your living room and around the world. Similarly, you can compete in daily challenges which give you one chance to top the global leaderboards and gain international bragging rights from the comfort of your living room. If all of this is a bit too much for you though, the brand new Free-Skate mode for the XL edition will allow you to practice without the imposing challenges posed in the other game variants. You can skate to your heart’s content.
Controlling the game is a learning curve to begin with, but later becomes a simple test of your timing and execution. Tricks are pulled off by moving the left analogue stick in specific motions. Your speed and height will affect how well you pull each trick off, but most important is your landing. Much like a dancing game or Guitar Hero, nailing this requires you to push down the stick exactly before you hit the ground. The game regularly forces you think fast with various obstacles and unexpected changes in the route ahead, keeping you very much on your toes too. Much like the real sport of skateboarding, focus is everything, and skill is very much learned through practice and repetition.
Level design is pretty basic in OlliOlli2, with gameplay having been the clear core focus. That being said, the design is not ruined by its simplicity; quite the opposite. The world has enough colour and structure to get along with, and visually it certainly isn’t unattractive; just don’t expect wildly detailed objects to hop over and grind along. The simple visuals simply amplify how epic it is when you land a crazy trick around them, giving you the ultimate feeling of being amazing rather than the game boasting itself above your achievements. For a game like OlliOlli2, this appreciation of the player works very well, and gives you a really upbeat feeling when you succeed. The music helps keep up this positive pace too, complementing the experience as a whole.
One final aspect of this game which is well worth noting is its inclusion of the increasingly rare local multiplayer feature. A skating game with a focus on scoring points through epic tricks wouldn’t be quite the same if you couldn’t challenge your friends at it, so its inclusion is a delight to see. If conquering your friends isn’t quite enough for you however, the global leader boards which you can work to see your name on might be worthy of your attention too, offering you the chance to skill your way to being the very best, like no-one ever was!
OlliOlli2 XL is a great example of a casual platforming game which also offers plenty of skill-based gaming to enjoy. Ideal for any level of gamer, the game is both simple and open enough for everyone to attempt and enjoy. Skateboarding fans will appreciate this representation of the sport, and Tony Hawks games fans will be delighted with the 2-dimensional representation of these true classics. Despite the new game modes being slightly few and far between, having plenty of variety and enjoyment on offer makes OlliOlli2 XL easy to recommend!
The Good:
- Familiar skating game model makes objectives easy to understand.
- Good variety in game modes.
- Game controls are intelligent, testing your timing and quick thinking.
- Skill-focussed gameplay provides a decent challenge to the player.
- Simple but effective level design complimented by colour scheme and music.
- Simplicity of the theme emphasises the skills of the player.
- Local multiplayer is good to see as ever!
- Global leaderboards allow you to test your skill against the world.
The Bad:
- Learning the control system is a bit of learning curve.
- Some levels might be overly challenging to some players.
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